Impusle Shopping Can Be Deadly

By: Martin Lukac
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:17:39
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One of the most destructive things you can do to your budget is become addicted to impulse shopping. It can quickly eliminate your entire paycheck and your credit card available balance.

In fact, credit cards have a large role in the growing number of impulse shoppers across the nation. They help solidify the idea that you can just buy whatever you want, whenever you want it, and worry about the paying for it later. Then you are completely floored when you get that statement or overlimit notice.

How do you know if you are an impulse shopper? Do you buy things that you don't need or won't use? Do you just stop in a store to look and walk out with a bag? Do you just put things in your grocery cart with no thought to them at all? Do you plan to spend $100 and spend twice that amount? Do you get home and wonder what you will have for dinner?

And you do it all the time. You know that you shouldn't treat your finances this way, but how do you stop?

It is rather hard to stop impulse shopping. Most of the time, those little impulses won't hurt you. But things start adding up.

The best way to stop impulse shopping is to not shop. Don't go into a store to simply look around. Don't go into a store unless you have a specific item that you need to purchase. Don't go into a store without knowing exactly how much you have to spend.

Be prepared for you shopping. Take a list with you. Estimate how much you will need and add a few dollars to that. Then leave all of your cards and your checkbook in your vehicle. Only carry in the cash amount that you have to spend. This will make you keep track of what you put in your cart. You don't want to risk not having enough money in the checkout lane. And you will avoid the urge to simply charge it or write a check.

Eat a large meal before you go grocery shopping. This will help you avoid buying things that you don't really need out of hunger.

Take the time to think before you buy an item. Ask yourself if you really need it. Can you wait? Will it go on sale? Often, if you give an item a 24-hour waiting period before you buy it you will find that you don't want it as much as you thought you did. This is a great strategy for dealing with those items that you feel you absolutely have to have.

Get rid of the catalogs. Don't sign up for new ones and ask to be removed from the ones you have. Stop shopping online. I have found that my impulse shopping goes through the roof when I visit those online auction sites. Know what triggers your shopping and deal with it.

Talking of shopping triggers, there are a lot of people that impulse shop when they are upset or stressed. Find other ways to make yourself feel better. You know that the shopping is only a quick fix that is often replaced with guilt.

You can break the habit. It just takes time and self-control. It is an easy habit to fall back into, so you have to stay on your toes. Plan ahead and think before you buy, and you will save money.

Article source: Expert Articles